It is a common refrain that a bad carpenter blames their tools, but even the best woodworker will be limited by the quality of materials and tools at their disposal.
If you are looking for a good machine to dimension raw lumber, you have to read this review. This article will provide a helpful buying guide and highlight the pros & cons of the 5 best jointer-planer combo machines of 2024.
Comparison:
The Best Jointer Planer Combos of 2024:
1. JET JJP-12 12-Inch Jointer Planer
- Three high-speed steel knife cutterhead provides rapid cutting and a superior finish
- Extremely quick changeover between jointing and planing functions (fence does not need to be removed)
- Heavy-duty cast iron tables with machined finish ensure accuracy and flatness
OVERVIEW
The final Jet jointer planer combo on my list is also the only one that I might recommend for a professional given its overall capabilities. That said, the JET JJP-12 jointer planer combo requires more space than the other Jet models I reviewed but offers significant design improvements as well.
Arguably the biggest improvement in my mind is the use of cast-iron for the table which helps reduce vibrations and ensure a smooth cut– though the rubber outfeed roller is a nice touch too. On top of that, the JET JJP-12 jointer planer combo also produces significantly more power with a motor that pushes 3 hp and 12 ½ amps.
On the other hand, this jointer planer combo also comes with three 12” knives that spin at a slower 5500 RPMs but still produce 16500 cuts per minute. This allows for a feed rate of 20 fpm without having to worry about skipped points or rough cuts in the wood like with models that only employ 2 knives.
It is worth noting that this jointer planer combo is extremely expensive– especially for a hobbyist– but it backs that up with impressive capacities as well. For the standard capacities, 12” x ⅛” is a nice start, but the ability to plane a workpiece with a maximum height of 8 ¾” is good for the best on my list.
PROS
CONS
2. Ridgid JP0610 Planer, 6-1/8-Inch Jointer
- This item is JOINTER/PLANER, 6-18" 14668
- This product is used for tools-replacement-parts
- This product manufacture by Taiwan
OVERVIEW
Ridgid is definitely known more as a consumer-grade to mid-tier power tool manufacturer, but jointer planer combos tend to favor mid-tier ranges given the skill level necessary to justify their use. The Ridgid JP0610 jointer planer combo sits somewhere in the middle as it offers solid specs for cutting but less so for project size.
For example, this jointer planer combo has a decent motor with 1 hp that pushes 12 to 6 amps, depending on whether you wire it for 120 or 240 volts. On top of that, the Ridgid JP0610 jointer planer combo cuts with three 6” knives, though it only spins at 3450 RPMs to produce 10350 cuts per minute.
On the other hand, this jointer planer combo is reasonably priced, especially when you consider that it uses cast-iron for the table to help reduce vibration. But it is still a bit difficult to get past the small size which only allows for a capacity of 6 ⅛” x ⅛” cut– though it surprises a bit with a maximum planing height of 6”.
Of course, the Ridgid JP0610 jointer planer combo helps justify its price a bit by adding features not commonly found like the ability to make cuts on workpieces regardless of the bevel direction– even if it is difficult to properly adjust. As if that were not enough, this is also the only jointer planer combo on my list explicitly designed to make rabbets with a maximum thickness of ½”.
PROS
CONS
3. RIKON Power Tools 25-210H 12-Inch Planer/Jointer
- Powerful 220V 3 HP, 3400 RPM Motor Easily Cuts at full capacity
- 4 Row Helical Cutter Head Produces an ultra smooth finish
- 56, 4 Sided Indexible Carbide Inserts Change easily
OVERVIEW
RIKON rounds out my list and is well-known as a hobbyist woodworking power tool manufacturer that produces solid products at a premium. The RIKON 25-210H jointer planer combo is a perfect example of this and has a price tag to match– though its cutters might justify the cost.
Specifically, this is the only jointer planer combo I included that uses helical cutters as opposed to knives which improve its performance and overhead costs. The RIKON 25-210H jointer planer combo also justifies its cost with a powerful motor that runs at 3 hp and pushes 12 amps.
The powerful motor allows this jointer planer combo to spin at 5,000 RPMs and make 20,000 cuts per minute thanks to its 4 rows of 2 ¾” helical cutters with 14 inserts per row. As is expected for a more capable option, the RIKON 25-210H jointer planer combo comes with a cast-iron table and rubber outfeed rollers.
While not the largest capacity total, strictly speaking, you will not lack size with this jointer planer combo as it can handle 12” x ⅛” cuts. The planing is just as good with the RIKON 25-210H jointer planer combo which can make cuts at a maximum height of 7 ⅞” at a feed rate of 23 fpm.
PROS
CONS
Jointer Planer Combo Buying Guide
There are quite a few power tool manufacturers that produce jointer planer combination machines, but not all of them are good. Jointer planers are expensive. The following buying guide will help you make an informed purchase.
Power
Despite what it may seem, power is not necessarily the most important factor to consider with a jointer planer machine– though it cannot be outright ignored either. Generally, even somewhat underpowered jointer planers can still cut effectively, albeit at a slower rate under load than more powerful models.
Still, when choosing a jointer planer tool, it is a good idea to look at both the horsepower and the amps of a motor. The horsepower will give you a good idea of the maximum cutting power a jointer planer produces while the amps will tell you how much power the model maintains under load.
Cutter
- Knife – Knives are the more common type of cutter used for jointer planer combo machines as well as the individuated tools. A jointer planer knife is a long blade, sharpened at one edge, that more or less shaves away the workpiece. While this type of cutter is less expensive than helical cutters, it also produces more vibration and a rougher finish that must be sanded more.
- Helical – Newer and more advanced jointer planer combo machines often use helical cutters instead of knives which involve multiple rows of small 4-sided inserts. As the rows of inserts rotate, the helical cutters make smaller cuts across smaller sections of the workpiece along the row. This produces a significantly smoother cut face, and helical cutters last longer– but these jointer planers are also more expensive.
Speed
Depending on the materials in question and your desired work pace, the speed of a jointer planer combo machine might be more important than its power. Keep in mind, there are a couple of different speeds to consider, but the most important one is the rotation of the cutters measured in RPMs.
When looking at cuts per minute, you simply multiply the number of cutters or cutting rows by the RPMs with more RPMs cutting harder surfaces better. The speed of the cutters combined with the number of cutters will also impact how quickly you can feed the workpiece into the cutters, measured in feet per minute or fpm.
Capacity
The importance of a jointer/planer’s capacity matters more depending on the types of projects you make, though professionals and advanced woodworkers prefer, if not outright need, larger capacities. The main capacity that you need to consider is the width and cutting depth as this will impact the size of your workpiece and the amount of material you can cut in a single pass.
For the most part, jointer planer combo machines remove about ⅛” of material per pass at the most, though some models can make specialized cuts that remove more. Outside of the general capacity, it is also worth considering the maximum height of planing the machine can cut as this determines how thick the workpiece can be.
Build
When it comes to the build of a jointer planer, the most important factor is the table material as this will impact how much vibration transfers to the workpiece. For this purpose, heavy, dense cast iron is the best material with steel falling behind and aluminum sitting at the bottom.
Outside of the table, looking outfeed rollers can also influence your decision as they prevent the cut face from getting marred on the way out. While higher-end jointer planer machines will use rubber outfeed rollers, all but the softest of woods do not need anything more than simple sheet metal.
Cutting it down to one
- Three high-speed steel knife cutterhead provides rapid cutting and a superior finish
- Extremely quick changeover between jointing and planing functions (fence does not need to be removed)
- Heavy-duty cast iron tables with machined finish ensure accuracy and flatness
Ultimately, the best jointer planer combo will depend on the type of jobs you intend to use it for and the size of your workshop. Given that I expect most readers to be hobbyists or non-professionals, I suggest the JET JJP-12 12-inch Jointer Planer, as its lightweight design and compact profile are perfect for smaller workspaces.
As detailed prior, this jointer planer combo still packs quite a punch in that small package as its motor pushes 13 amps which is more than enough to maintain cutting power under load. While the use of only 2 knife blades means you should not feed the workpiece too quickly, its 9,000 RPMs is still good enough for 18,000 cuts per minute.
It also does hurt that the Jet JJP-8BT jointer planer combo can accommodate beveled wood as well up to 45°. Of course, the capacities of this jointer planer combo may not be the largest on my list, but the standard capacities of 8” x ⅛” are acceptable while the maximum planing height of 4 ⅛” is solid for a tool this size.
The JET JJP-12 12-inch Jointer Planer may not have quite as stable of a build as some of the other models I reviewed, but the cast aluminum is at least level and more than durable enough. It also does not hurt that this planer jointer combo is inexpensive, making its combination an even better value.
